Eastern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Agkistrodon, Species: Agkistrodon contortrix
Eastern and Central United States, ranging from southern New England to the Florida Panhandle and west to the Mississippi River and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Look up Eastern Copperhead in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Venomous (Solenoglyphous)
Danger Level
High Risk (Potentially dangerous). While they have a high frequency of bites due to excellent camouflage, mortality is extremely low; however, medical attention is mandatory for pain management and tissue monitoring.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Viperidae, Subfamily: Crotalinae, Genus: Agkistrodon, Species: Agkistrodon contortrix
Conservation
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Faces threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing due to fear.
Physical Description
Coppery-red or tan head with a thick body. The most diagnostic feature is the 'hourglass' or 'Hershey's Kiss' pattern along the sides (wide on the bottom, narrow on the top). Eyes have vertical slits (elliptical pupils) and a heat-sensing pit is present between the eye and nostril. Scales are keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Typical adult length is 24-36 inches (61-91 cm). Maximum recorded length is around 53 inches (135 cm). The specimen in the image appears to be a mature adult.
Habitat
Deciduous forests, mixed woodlands, and rocky hillsides. Often found in woodpiles, sawdust piles, and abandoned buildings. They favor microhabitats with leaf litter for camouflage and are often near water sources.
Behavior & Temperament
Generally docile and non-aggressive, preferring to remain motionless and rely on camouflage. If threatened, they may vibrate their tail (which sounds like a rattle in dry leaves) and strike as a last resort. Diurnal in spring/fall, becoming nocturnal in hot summer months.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist carnivore eating mice, small birds, lizards, frogs, and large insects (especially cicadas). Uses an ambush 'sit-and-wait' strategy, striking with venom and then tracking the scent of the dying prey.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young); typical litter size is 2 to 10 young. Neonates have bright sulfur-yellow or chartreuse-colored tail tips used for caudal luring to attract frogs or lizards.
Venom Profile
Hemotoxic venom that destroys red blood cells and causes tissue damage (proteolytic enzymes). Bites are painful but rarely fatal to healthy adults.
Look-alikes
Often confused with Northern Water Snakes (Nerodia sipedon), which are non-venomous and have darker, more square-shaped markings that are widest at the top. Also confused with Eastern Milk Snakes and Juvenile Corn Snakes.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. Faces threats from habitat fragmentation, road mortality, and intentional killing due to fear.
Cultural Significance
Often featured in North American folklore. They play a vital ecological role in regulating rodent and cicada populations.
Notable Features
The 'hourglass' pattern is unique among North American vipers. Unlike many other pit vipers, they do not have a rattle, but their frequent use of tail vibration can confuse many people into thinking they are rattlesnakes.